FWIW, the Cobra GT 140, which is SSB, is about the size of the Cobra with the weather channels that I have in the Jeep now.
Thought about putting the SSB in the Jeep just for fun.

 

If you can afford a rig with HF as well, I really do urge you to go that direction. There is a very good chance that when you start getting on the air you will find it addicting. If so, you'll find out very quickly, the more coms you have the better.... That's why the Icom IC706 (and I think now the IC7000) was, and still may be the most popular mobile rig on the market.

 

I've certainly looked at it and thought about it....but that is a STEEP price tag for a first rig.

The transceiver alone is twice the price of of an "all the bells and whistles" unit that will cover everything from 10 meters up to 70cm.

And then multiple antennas (VHF/UHF and an HF antenna)...

And then how do I keep my fancy expensive HF antenna from getting munched by trees (there are some TIGHT trails around here)

I don't have my mind 100% set, and an HF rig at home certainly appeals to me...I just worry about the practicality and expense of running HF from my Jeep.

All of that said, is it worth spending extra money to get access to 80m and 160m if I do spend the dollars on an HF-capable rig?

The other thing is that while I absolutely understand and feel the lure of HAM as a pure hobby, the "kicker" that made me decide to get my license was a medical emergency while out in the backcountry in my Jeep. A member of another party was injured (shattered ankle and punctured lung) from an ATV rollover. His party was able to get a cell phone call out and arrange for an air ambulance extraction. My party happened on them and since we had a number of better trained and experience people (including me) we took over care of the patient and managed the landing zone until the bird was on the ground.

That day, I decided that a CB and a cell phone would NOT cut it for the areas I wheel in. That said, there is pretty good 2 meter repeater coverage in a lot of those areas - especially if you can get to a high point - and even some autopatch repeaters.

 

Another HUGE part of the hobby is buying and selling HAM gear. I have done this quite a bit myself. As you get further into it your interests change as does the gear itself. You can virtually get mint used gear from three quarters to half the price of new. Just look around and ask to see pics as well as a possibility to hear the rig on the air. Yes the price tag of say, the IC706MK2G is high, but now there has been three different models out and there are still deals to be made on the first model...the plain jane IC706. Your local HAM club may be able to help you out there as well.

As far as antennas go, there is a company called "HAM Stick". You can get interchangeable antennas for all the bands. Meaning you carry as many different "stingers" in your rig for as many bands as you think you will be using. Say if you're on the trail and talking on 20m, then it starts getting dark and you want to get on 40m, you just stop, switch out the antennas and away you go. You don't have to have 2-5 antennas hanging off your jeep at all times. That is only one way to go and it is a good way.

The one real good thing about having access to all bands, is then you are pretty much covered as far as getting through to somebody in case of an emergency. Like has been said before, it just all depends on what you want to do. If you don't think you're into talking all over the country/world, then if you have the repeater coverage, 2m may be all you need. At this point in the solar cycle, you can't count on 6 or 10 meter coms, as there still seems to be only limited openings there. The HAMS that find themselves really liking to communicate on all bands, almost always put together a HAM shack at their qth. In this case, with one all band / all mode radio, you are set.....easy to use in the house as well as grab it, throw it in the jeep and keep on talking.

The possibilities are endless. It just depends on how much of the HAM radio "fever" you get, or how much of the "gift o' gab" you got.... Only you can figure that out.

Have fun...!!!